Commodity antitheft implement

ABSTRACT

A commodity antitheft implement for preventing opening of cases accumulating therein commodities for rent or various commodities for sales for the purpose of theft of the commodities in question, for preventing cases accumulating therein commodities from being taken out of the store without permission, wherein it is possible to eliminate shielding operations by arranging tags preventing cases from being taken out without permission to be left in the store.  
     The case is comprised of a box body including an opening portion for taking a commodity in and out and a cover body provided at the box body through hinges to open and close the opening portion, and opening of the case is made difficult by inserting a key member into through holes provided at overlapping peripheral walls of the case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a commodity antitheft implementfor preventing pilferage of commodities for rent such as disks,videotapes or game software recorded with music or images of CDcassettes or of various commodities for sales that are accumulated incases, for preventing these commodities including their cases from beingtaken outside of the store without permission, and for preventing theftof various commodities for sales accumulated in such cases.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] There exists a problem in, for instance, rental stores thatpilferage and theft of commodities for rent cannot be prevented whendisplaying cases in which the commodities for rent are being actuallyaccumulated on shelves of the stores since such conventional cases arenot provided with means for preventing opening thereof.

[0005] It is thus being employed a method in which empty cases arearranged and displayed on the shelves of the rental store, and when acustomer takes a displayed empty case of a commodity for rent bearing atitle of his or her wish out of the shelf and brings it to the counter,a salesperson standing by the counter will take the correspondingcommodity for rent as indicated on the empty case out of a storageplace, and upon completion of specified lending procedures, the customermay rent the commodity.

[0006] Employing such a method enables it to prevent theft ofcommodities for rent since the customer will not directly touch theactual commodity for rent until lending procedures are completed.

[0007] However, it being troublesome for the salesperson to selectcommodities for rent from the storage place or to maintain thesecommodities in a tidy manner, such a method is disadvantaged in that itis difficult to smoothly perform lending procedures and in that a widestorage place is required.

[0008] On the other hand, it would be possible to solve such a problemby displaying cases accumulating therein commodities for rent on shelvesof the rental store, and performing lending procedures when a customertakes a commodity for rent of his or her wish out of the cases andbrings it to the counter.

[0009] However, theft cannot be prevented since the customer maydirectly touch the commodities for rent and take out of the storeaccordingly without permission.

[0010] Some rental stores are now preventing theft of commodities forrent by attaching antitheft tags with peculiar ID codes to arbitrarypositions of the commodities for rent. A predetermined high frequencyelectromagnetic field is then generated in a gateway of the store, andwhen one tries to take a commodity for rent out without permission andpasses through the gateway, such an unauthorized pass of the commodityfor rent may be detected upon resonance of a resonance circuit of the IDcode to generate a peculiar ID code and detection thereof upondemodulation through the high frequency electromagnetic field that thesalesperson may observe.

[0011] Such a method is, however, disadvantaged in that commodities forrent of which predetermined lending procedures have been completed willbe detected similar to those taken out without permission unless such IDcodes of the antitheft tags are shielded in some way when performinglending processes at the counter.

[0012] It thus resulted in a drawback of troublesome shieldingprocedures and remarkable increase in costs owing to equipmentsaccompanying the shielding.

[0013] Such problems are not limited to the above-described case withcommodities for rent but will also arise when employing antitheft tagsfor preventing theft of various commodities for sales such as clothing,accessories or daily necessaries.

[0014] Theft of commodities that are accumulated in cases comprised, forinstance, of a box body and a cover body for opening and closing anaperture of the box body frequently occurs since it is easy to conductpilferage of the commodities due to the openable arrangement.

[0015] Even if cases provided with opening preventing key members orsliders were employed, it was still possible to open the cases sincecorresponding portions that are in latch with the key members or sliderscould be broken or released by applying forcible force in a directionfor opening the case.

[0016] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide acommodity antitheft implement capable of blocking opening of the casesfor eliminating pilferage of commodities for rent or of objects of whichtheft shall be prevented and of eliminating the necessity of providingshields by leaving tags for preventing unauthorized take-out ofcommodities within the store, wherein cases may not be opened even uponapplication of forcible force in a direction for opening the cases.

[0017] These and other objects and features of the present inventionwill be understood in details from the following descriptions withreference to the accompanying drawings illustrating examples thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating first and secondembodiments of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a partially cut front view of FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating examples of through holes;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional side view illustrating anexample of a through hole;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional side view illustrating otherexample of a through hole;

[0024]FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional side view illustrating astopper of a key member;

[0025]FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment;

[0026]FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional side view illustrating anexample for using the implement of the above embodiment;

[0027]FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth embodiment;

[0028]FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional front view illustratingprincipal parts of the implement of the above embodiment;

[0029]FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional front view illustrating acondition for use of the above implement;

[0030]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a key member;

[0031]FIG. 14 is a partially cut front view illustrating another exampleof an engagement means;

[0032]FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional side view of FIG. 14;

[0033]FIG. 16 is a partially cut front view illustrating a releasingtool being inserted therein;

[0034]FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional side view of FIG. 16;

[0035]FIG. 18 is a partially cut front view illustrating a key memberbeing inserted therein;

[0036]FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating a fifth embodiment;

[0037]FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating principal parts of theimplement of the above embodiment;

[0038]FIG. 21 is a partially cut plan view of FIG. 20;

[0039]FIG. 22 is a perspective view illustrating a sixth embodiment;

[0040]FIG. 23 is a partially cut front view illustrating a key memberbeing inserted therein;

[0041]FIG. 24 is a longitudinal sectional side view of FIG. 23;

[0042]FIG. 25 is a longitudinal sectional side view with a releasingtool being inserted therein;

[0043]FIG. 26 is a perspective view illustrating a seventh embodiment;

[0044]FIG. 27 is a longitudinal sectional front view with a slider beinginserted into the case;

[0045]FIG. 28 is a vertically cut bottom view of FIG. 27;

[0046]FIG. 29 is a longitudinal sectional front view with a releasingtool being inserted therein;

[0047]FIG. 30 is a vertically cut bottom view of FIG. 29;

[0048]FIG. 31 is a longitudinal sectional side view of FIG. 29;

[0049]FIG. 32 is a perspective view illustrating an eighth embodiment;

[0050]FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a key member and a case;

[0051]FIG. 34 is a longitudinal sectional side view with the key memberbeing inserted into the case;

[0052]FIG. 35 is a vertically cut plan view of FIG. 34;

[0053]FIG. 36 is a perspective view illustrating principal parts of FIG.35;

[0054]FIG. 37 is a partially cut front view illustrating a condition foruse of a releasing tool;

[0055]FIG. 38 is a longitudinal sectional side view of FIG. 37;

[0056]FIG. 39 is another longitudinal sectional side view of FIG. 37;

[0057]FIG. 40 is a perspective view illustrating a ninth embodiment;

[0058]FIG. 41 is a longitudinal sectional side view of FIG. 40;

[0059]FIG. 42 is an enlarged plan view illustrating principal parts ofFIG. 41;

[0060]FIG. 43 is a perspective view illustrating concave and convexportions;

[0061]FIG. 44 is a perspective view illustrating another example ofconcave and convex portions;

[0062]FIG. 45 is a perspective view illustrating still another exampleof concave and convex portions; and

[0063]FIG. 46 is a partially cut perspective view illustrating stillanother example of concave and convex portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0064] FIGS. 1 to 3 are for illustrating a first embodiment of thecommodity antitheft implement.

[0065] Case A according to the first embodiment is comprised of ashallow rectangular box body 2 accumulating therein a commodity a in theinterior thereof and having an opening portion 1 for taking thecommodity a in and out, and a cover body 4 provided at the box body 2through hinges 3 and arranged to open and close the opening portion 1.

[0066] The box body 2 is formed with peripheral walls 6 provided on fourperipheral edges of a square main wall 5 while the cover body 4 isformed with peripheral walls 6 provided on three peripheral edges of itssquare main wall 5. By uniformly forming a lower edge of the main wall 5to a lower peripheral wall of the box body 2, the box body 2 and thecover body 4 are uniformly molded by using synthetic resin.

[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the hinges 3 are subjected to half-cutfinishing at corner portions between a lower edge and the lowerperipheral wall of the main wall 5 of the box body 2 as well as atcorner portions between the lower edge and a lower peripheral wall ofthe main wall 5 of the cover body 4, and the cover body 4 is thus madebendable with respect to the box body 2 from a flat, fully openedcondition to a condition of closing the opening portion 1.

[0068] When the opening portion 1 of the box body 2 is closed by thecover body 4, the peripheral walls 6 of the cover body 4 will outwardlyfit with the peripheral walls 6 of the box body 2.

[0069] The peripheral walls 6, 6 of both, the box body 2 and the coverbody 4 are provided with through holes 7, 7 that coincide with keymember 8 is inserted into these coincident through holes other when thebox body 2 is closed by the cover body 4, and holes 7, 7 from outsidesuch that it may freely be inserted and drawn out.

[0070] By inserting the key member 8 into the through holes 7, 7, theclosed condition of the cover body 4 with respect to the box body 2 canbe maintained, and by drawing the key member 8 out, the cover body 4 mayassume an open position.

[0071] It should be noted that the structure of the above hinges 3 isnot limited to the illustrated one, and it is alternatively possible toemploy a structure in which opening and closing is affected by, forinstance, separately provided hinges or pin hinges of a style in whichholes and projecting shafts are fitted with each other.

[0072] The key member 8 is not limited to the illustrated plate-likebody but may also comprise a square shaft or cylindrical shaft.

[0073] It will also be understood that while the illustrated throughholes 7 are formed as elongated holes that coincide with the peripheralshape of the plate-like body of the plate-like key member 8, these holesmay be alternatively formed to meet the peripheral shape of the keymember 8.

[0074] The shape of the through holes 7 may also be formed in a mannerthat it engages with both side edge portions of the key member 8 asillustrated in FIG. 4.

[0075] The crucial point is that opening of the cover body 4 withrespect to the box body 2 shall be blocked by inserting the key member 8into the coincident through holes 7, 7.

[0076] While the positions of the through holes 7, 7 are located atcentral portions on upper sides of the peripheral walls 6, 6, opposingthe illustrated hinges 3, they may also be formed on both end portionson upper sides or on both sides of the peripheral walls 6, 6, dependingon sizes or other reasons.

[0077] It is also possible to provide, in addition to the inner andouter overlapping peripheral walls 6, 6, formed with coincident throughholes 7, 7, projecting walls 9 to extend from either or both main walls5 in a parallel manner to oppose the peripheral walls 6 as illustratedin FIG. 5, and by forming through holes 7 on these projecting walls 9that coincide with the through holes 7 of the peripheral walls 6, 6, thekey member 8 may be inserted into through holes 7 of both, theperipheral walls 6 and the projecting walls 9.

[0078] It should be noted that a distal end of the inserted key membermay be hidden in case L-shaped bent walls 10, 10 are provided outside ofthe peripheral walls 6 formed with the through holes 7 to be continuingfrom side edges of both main walls 5, 5 such that the key member 8 maybe inserted into the through holes 7 from between the bent walls 10, 10.

[0079] The provision of a guide means 11 within the case A for the keymember 8 to be inserted will enable smooth insertion of the key member 8that is inserted through the through holes 7.

[0080] While the illustrated guide means 11 is comprised of rail strings12 for guiding both side edges of the key member 8 formed on an innersurface of the main wall 5 on the box body 2 side and slip-offpreventing strings 13 projecting out from the rail strings 12 withrespect to the main walls 5 while forming a clearance that is somewhatlarger than a thickness of the key member 8 and further facing platesurfaces of side edge portions of the key member 8, it is alternativelypossible to provide the guide means 11 on the main wall 5 on the coverbody 4 side. The shape of such means is further not limited to thestructure comprised of the rail strings 12 and the slip-off preventingstrings 13 and may be formed to assume different shapes, e.g. as acylindrical body.

[0081] In such a case, stoppers 14 are provided at ends of the railstrings 12 which both sides of leading end edges of insertion of the keymember 8 abut such that distal end edges of the inserted key member 8and the surface of the outer peripheral wall 6 are formed within a sameplane.

[0082] The stoppers 14 may be formed as an arrangement other than thoseformed on the rail strings 12, for instance, as protrusions formed on aninner surface of the main wall 5 or to employ an arrangement in which abrim 15 is formed at a distal end of the key member 8 as illustrated inFIG. 7 wherein the brim 15 is fitted into a concave portion 16 formed onthe surface of the outer peripheral wall 6 with the surface of the brim15 being formed on the same plane as the surface of the peripheral wall6 for the purpose of hiding.

[0083] A route for inserting the key member 8 may be established by theguide means 11 so that the key member 8 will not contact the commodity aaccumulated in the case A even though the commodity a shall beunwrapped, and it is consequently possible to eliminate the occurrenceof a case in which the commodity a is damaged through contact of the keymember 8 with the unwrapped commodity a.

[0084] It is thus possible to eliminate damages of recorded surfaces orprinted surfaces though the commodities in question are unwrapped disks,to decrease costs since it is possible to leave commodities unwrapped,and to further to eliminate damages of accessories by the key member 8in case accessories such as song texts are accumulated within the caseA.

[0085] The commodity antitheft implement according to the secondembodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 isarranged in that a key member 8 that is inserted into case A is drawnout within the store.

[0086] Such a means for drawing out is arranged, as illustrated in FIGS.8 and 9, in that a notch 20 is formed as an aperture for inserting adrawing tool 19 and in that a pair of latch portions 21 is formed onopposing surfaces or opposing edges of the drawing tool 19 and theinserted key member 8.

[0087] The illustrated fitting member 21 is comprised with a protrusion22 on one member and of a hole 23 on the other member into which theprotrusion 22 is fitted to and latched with.

[0088] Upon coincidence of the hole 23 and the protrusion 22 through theinsertion of the drawing tool 19, the protrusion 22 will fit into thehole 23 to assume a latched condition, and by drawing the drawing tool19 out after establishing the latched condition, the key member 8 willbe simultaneously drawn out to thereby enable opening of the case A.

[0089] The drawing tool 19 and the key member 8 that have been drawn outwill be left in the store for reuse. Thus, a case A that is not providedwith a key member 8 will be a case for sales or rent in case of a rentalstore.

[0090] It should be noted that while the hole 23 is formed at thedrawing tool 19 and the protrusion 22 at the key member 8 in theillustrated example, it is possible to employ an arrangement in reverse.

[0091] Smooth insertion of the drawing tool 19 is enabled in case atapered surface portion with its degree of projection increasing inapproaching a leading direction of insertion is formed on an end surfacein a projecting direction of the protrusion 22 as illustrated.

[0092] The commodity antitheft implement according to the thirdembodiment is arranged in that an antitheft tag 24 is provided at thekey members 8 of the above-described first and second embodimentsthrough adhesion or embedding.

[0093] As exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the tag 24 iscomprised with a known peculiar ID code, and when one tries to make acase A with the key member 8 being inserted therein that is attachedwith the tag 24 pass through a gateway of a store, such an unauthorizedpass of the case A may be detected upon resonance of a resonance circuitof the ID code provided at the gateway of the store to generate apeculiar ID code and detection thereof upon demodulation through thehigh frequency electromagnetic field that the salesperson may observe toconsequently prevent theft.

[0094] The key member 8 with the tag 24 is of course drawn out and leftin the store, and the case A accumulating therein an unwrapped commoditya is used as a case for sales or rent.

[0095] Prior to selling or lending, it is possible to block opening ofthe case A through the key member 8 and to effectively prevent shopliftor theft of an unwrapped commodity a through the tag 24.

[0096] The commodity antitheft implement according to the fourthembodiment of the present invention is comprised, as illustrated inFIGS. 10 to 13, with a key member 8 that is inserted into case A similarto the first embodiment and an engaging means 31 formed on the case Aside to assume an engaged relationship upon insertion of the key member8, and such engaged relationship may be released by inserting areleasing tool 32 that is inserted into the case A.

[0097] The illustrated engaging means 31 includes an engaging claw 33formed at a side edge of the key member 8 such that its degree ofprojection becomes gradually larger in approaching a distal enddirection of the key member 8, and an engaging hole 34 into which theengaging claw 33 fits and engages at a portion midway of a rail string12 of the guide means 11 for blocking the key member 8 from being drawnout. When the engaging claw 33 contacts the rail string upon insertionof the key member 8, the engaging claw 33 will be pushed back, and uponcompletion of insertion of the key member 8, the engaging claw 33 andthe engaging hole 34 will coincide such that the rail string 12 and theengaging claw 33 will not contact with each other.

[0098] Consequently, the engaging claw 33 that is released from theforce pushing the same back will fit into the engaging hole 34 asillustrated in FIG. 11 to assume an engaged condition for blocking thekey member 8 from being drawn out.

[0099] Instead of forming the engaging claw 33 and engaging hole 34 atthe key member 8 and the guide means 11, they may alternatively beformed on an inner surface of the main wall 5 of the box body 2 at asurface at which the key member 8 and the case A oppose or also on aninner surface of the main wall 5 of the cover body 4.

[0100] In such a case, the engaging hole 34 from among the engaging claw33 and the engaging hole 34 comprising the engaging means 31 may bereplaced by a projecting portion 51 such as a projecting string or aprotrusion projecting out from the inner surface of the main wall 5 ofat least either one of the box body 2 or the cover body 4 as illustratedsuch that the engaging claw 33 contacts the projecting portion 51halfway of insertion of the key member 8 to push the engaging claw 33back through this contact, wherein the engaging claw 33 that is releasedof force pushing the same back will return when the engaging claw 33 hascompleted passing the projecting portion 51 while a tip of the returnedengaging claw 33 will hook at the projecting portion 51 for preventingthe key member 8 from being drawn out.

[0101] It should be noted that in case the projecting portion 51 isformed as a projecting string as in the illustrated case, a piercingportion 52 for the key member 8 may be formed as a notched through holeas illustrated in FIG. 14 or FIG. 18.

[0102] While the illustrated engaging claw 33 has been formed by cuttinga slit 53 formed to substantially assume the shape of the letter U intothe plate surface of the key member 8 and pushing the slit 53 out frominside, it is also possible to fixedly attach a separately arrangedengaging claw to the key member or to uniformly form the same with thekey member 8 in a form of a molded plate made of synthetic resin.

[0103] The crucial point is that the key member 8 and the case Aautomatically assume an engaged relationship upon completion ofinsertion of the key member 8 for blocking the key member 8 from beingdrawn out.

[0104] In the case as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the releasingtool 32 is inserted through the through holes 7 serving as insertingapertures towards the engaging claw 33, a tapered jutting piece 35projecting from a tip of the plate-like releasing tool 32 will fitbetween an outer edge of a projecting piece 36, which projects from theengaging claw 33 in a direction directed to the distal end of the keymember 8, and the rail string 12, and when fitting is continued, theengaging claw 33 is pushed and released to escape from the engaging hole34 whereupon the engaged relationship is released.

[0105] Accompanying the drawing out of the releasing tool 32, the keymember 8 may be drawn out together with the releasing tool 32 throughfrictional force caused through press-contact of the projecting piece 36applied on the jutting piece 35 utilizing resilience of the pushed andreleased engaging claw 33.

[0106] It should be noted that in case slip is caused at a portion wherefrictional force is generated, a combined latch portion 21 comprised ofprotrusion 22 and hole 23 similar to those of the second embodimentshall be formed at the key member 8 and the releasing tool 32.

[0107] In case an engaging means 31 is provided on opposing surfaces asillustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, a notched portion 54 as illustrated inFIGS. 16 and 17 that is directed inward from a center of the projectingdirection of the engaging claw 33 may be provided. The engagedrelationship between the engaging claw 33 and the projecting portion 51may then be released by fitting the jutting piece 35 of the releasingtool 32 that is inserted through the notch 20 for insertion provided atedges of the through holes 7 into this notched portion 54 and pushingthe engaging claw 33 back in the course of fitting operations.

[0108] The releasing tool 32 and the key member 8 are simultaneouslydrawn out through latching affected by the fitting of the protrusion 22and the hole 23 of the latch portion 21 provided on opposing surfaces ofthe key member 8 and the releasing tool 32.

[0109] Since the structure and the action of such latch portion 21 isidentical to those of the second embodiment, detailed explanations willbe omitted.

[0110] As described above, the key member 8 that has been drawn outsimultaneously with the releasing tool 32 is left in the store while thecase A accumulating therein commodity a may be used as a case for rentor sales, and when being displayed, opening of the case A may be blockedby the key member 8 that is inserted into the case A, and the key member8 is prevented from being drawn out by means of the engaging means 31.

[0111] It is of course possible to attach an antitheft tag 24 to the keymember 8 including the engaging means 31, similar to the thirdembodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0112] In the drawing, 39 denotes a through window for pushing andreleasing the protrusion formed at the releasing tool 32.

[0113] In case the unwrapped commodity a accumulated within the case Ais a disk, damages of its printed surface or recorded surface may beprevented by arranging the leading end of insertion of the key member 8that is inserted into the case A to stop at a remote position withrespect to a peripheral edge of the disk that is temporally supported bya central supporting member 40 such that the key member 8 and the platesurface of the disk do not contact each other as it is illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2. Such an arrangement omits the necessity of providing theabove-described guide means 11.

[0114] The commodity antitheft implement according to the fifthembodiment of the present invention is arranged in that assembledmaintenance and release of the assembled maintenance is enabled througha locking device C as illustrated in FIGS. 19 to 21 wherein aninterposing member 42 is interposed into a latch portion 41 such as ahole or interposing portion formed on an object B of which theft shallbe prevented, the interposing member 42 being folded into two toassemble both free ends thereof.

[0115] In the illustrated case, the object B of which theft shall beprevented and its latch portion 41 are trousers and a belt-insertingportion, while these may be comprised of button holes or holes formedon, for instance, mounts of blister-pack style of display cases; thecrucial point is that the string-like or strap-like interposing member42 may be interposed through.

[0116] In the illustrated case, the locking device C is arranged in thatflat box-shaped bodies 43, 43 for inward and outward fit are provided onboth ends of the interposing member 42 that is made of synthetic resinand provided to be foldable, and through holes 7 similar to those of theabove-described first and second embodiments are formed on overlappingor opposing peripheral walls of both box-shaped bodies 43, 43 that arefitted together. The key member 8 similar to those of the first, secondand fourth embodiments is inserted through these coincident throughholes 7 while the key member 8 is prevented from being drawn out throughengaging means 31, and releasing tool 32 is used for affecting drawingthe same out.

[0117] The interposing member 42 is of course attached with theantitheft tag 24, similar to those the first, second and fourthembodiments, at a portion other than the interior of the box-shapedbodies 43 of the locking device C or the key member 8.

[0118] By attaching the interposing member 42, it is possible to preventtheft through unauthorized take-out of commodities, and after sales ofthe commodity in question, the interposing member 42 is simply removedfrom the object B of which theft shall be prevented and left in thestore for reuse.

[0119] It should be noted that the locking device C is not limited tothe above arrangement, and locking and unlocking of the lock may also beaffected by, for instance, inserting and operating a key provided at thestore.

[0120] Since the guide means 11, through holes 7, key member 8, engagingmeans 31, releasing tool 32 and the tag 24 are similar to those of thefirst, second and fourth embodiments, detailed explanations will here beomitted.

[0121] The commodity antitheft implement according to the sixthembodiment of the present invention is arranged, as illustrated in FIGS.22 to 25, in that a fitting member 61 for blocking forced opening of thecase A is provided at a distal end of the key member 8 of the first tofourth embodiments to be outwardly fitted to a side of the case A uponcompletion of insertion of the key member 8.

[0122] The fitting member 61 is formed in a shape of a lever having agroove-like section that covers the peripheral walls 6 or both mainwalls 5, which comprise the side edge of the case A, from outside.Though the same member is formed in a linear shape fitting the entirelength of a single side edge in the illustrated example, it is alsopossible to employ arrangements in which the fitting member 61 is formedto assume a shape of the letter L with two sides pinching the corner ofside edges at which the through holes 7 are formed, or the letter U withthree sides pinching the corner, and further to employ two fittingmembers 61 projecting from the key member 8 in mutually oppositedirections.

[0123] The crucial point is that opening shall be blocked through thefitting member 61, even if forcible force is applied in a direction foropening the box body 2 or the cover body 4, by fitting the fittingmember 61 from outside of the side edge(s) of the case A upon completionof insertion of the key member 8.

[0124] It is further possible to prevent damages of the fitting portioninto which the key member 8 is pierced.

[0125] It should be noted that since arrangements and actions of theengaging member 31 of the inserted key member 8, the release of engagedrelationship of the engaging means 31 through the releasing tool 32,uniform drawing of the releasing tool 32 and the key member 8, and thoseof the tag 24 or the guide means 11 are similar to those of the first,third and fourth embodiments, detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0126] In the drawing, 62 denotes an aperture for inserting thereleasing tool 32 provided at the fitting member 61.

[0127] The commodity antitheft implement according to the seventhembodiment is arranged, as illustrated in FIGS. 26 to 31, in that thecase A is comprised of a box body 2 having an opening portion 1 fortaking a commodity a in and out, and a cover body 4 provided at the boxbody 2 through suitable hinges 3 and arranged to open and close theopening portion 1, wherein engaging walls 71, 71 are provided to beparallel with respect to the side edges of the box body 2 and the coverbody 4 of the case A, and a slider 72 is provided to be freely insertedand drawn out to and from the engaging walls 71, 71 to assume an engagedcondition for maintaining the closed condition of the case A.

[0128] The engaging walls 71 are formed in a hook-like shape to becontinuing from the main walls 5 comprising the box body 2 and the coverbody 4 as illustrated in FIG. 31, wherein upper edges of both side wallsof the slider having a vertical section of the letter H are fitted andengaged at the engaging walls 71, 71, and opening of the box body 2 andthe cover body 4 is blocked through the slider 72.

[0129] It should be noted that the shapes of the engaging walls 71 andthe slider 72 are not limited to the illustrated ones, and any shape maybe employed unless opening of the case A may be blocked through theengagement of the slider 72 and the engaging walls 71 as an action ofthe inserted slider 72.

[0130] The case A being similar to that of the first embodiment,detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0131] The slider 72 and the case A or the engaging walls 71 areprovided with an engaging means 31 that is pushed back upon insertion ofthe slider 72 and that blocks the slider 72 from being drawn out byautomatically assuming an engaged relationship upon completion ofinsertion of the slider 72.

[0132] The engaging means 31 being comprised of engaging claws 33 andengaging holes or engaging apertures 34 and thus similar to those of thefourth embodiment, explanations of arrangements and actions thereof willbe omitted.

[0133] For releasing the engaged condition of the engaging means 31, areleasing tool 32 that is inserted towards the engaging claws 33 asillustrated in FIGS. 29 and 30 is employed.

[0134] The releasing tool 32 may either be of a style similar to that ofthe third embodiment or arranged, as illustrated in FIGS. 29 and 30, inthat two engaging claws 33 are disposed in the front and rear withrespect to the inserting direction of the slider 72, wherein the engagedcondition is released by pushing the engaging claw 33 located remoterfrom the front by means of a bifurcated longer piece 73 and the engagingclaw 33 in the front by means of a shorter piece 74.

[0135] Insertion of the releasing tool 32 is affected from an apertureof the engaging wall 71 for inserting the slider 72 and is inserted intoa clearance formed between the slider 72 and peripheral walls 6 of thecase A, that is, between the engaging claws 33 and the engaging holes34.

[0136] In view of uniform drawing of the releasing tool 32 and theslider 72, it is preferable to provide, in addition to using frictionalforce of overlapping surfaces, a latch portion 21 which is a combinationof protrusion 22 and hole 23, similar to that of the second embodiment.

[0137] Latching means 75 for blocking opening of the case A throughforcible force applied on the box body 2 and the cover body 4 inmutually opposite, directions are formed on the case A and the slider 72or the engaging walls 71 and the slider 72, the means assuming a latchedcondition upon completion of insertion of the slider 72.

[0138] The illustrated latching means 75 is comprised of a projectingshaft 76 formed at a leading end in an inserting direction of the slider72, a through hole 78 on one side and a through hole 79 on another sideformed on overlapping walls 77 that are formed to continue from the mainwalls 5 of the box body 2 and the cover body 4 to overlap inwardly andoutwardly. It is alternatively possible to employ a method in which theprojecting shaft 76 is fitted through the through hole 78 into the hole79 upon completion of insertion of the slider 72, or a method in whichplanar L-shaped carrying pieces 80 are formed on both sides of thedistal end of the slider 72 with the carrying pieces 80 outwardlycontacting both engaging walls 71, and it is further possible to achievethe same effects through a fitting means 75 provided on at least one endof the slider 72.

[0139] It is preferable that the tag 24 be attached to the slider 72.

[0140] In the commodity antitheft implement according to the eighthembodiment of the present invention, case A₁ is comprised, asillustrated in FIGS. 32 to 36, a box body 102 including an openingportion 101 for taking a commodity a in and out, and a cover body 104provided at the box body 102 through hinges 103 and arranged to open andclose the opening portion 101, wherein inwardly and outwardlyoverlapping peripheral walls 106, 106 are provided at peripheral edgesof respective main walls 105 of the box body 102 and the cover body 104.

[0141] In case of the illustrated hinges 103, the main wall 105 of thecover body 104 is provided at a peripheral wall 106 on a lower side ofthe box body 102 through the half-cut finished hinges 103.

[0142] Through holes 107, 107 that coincide with each other are formedat specified positions of both peripheral walls 106, 106 of the box body102 and the cover body 104, and a key member 108 is inserted into thesecoincident through holes 107, 107 to be freely inserted and drawn out,wherein opening of the cover body 104 with respect to the box body 102is blocked by the inserted key member 108.

[0143] In the illustrated case, the coincident through holes 107, 107 ofboth peripheral walls 106, 106 are formed as an elongated hole formed onthe inner peripheral wall 106 while a notch is formed on the outerperipheral wall 106 to extend from an open end of the cover body 104towards the main wall 105, and a L-shaped latching piece 127 is providedon an inner surface of the main wall 105 of the cover body 104 side toserve as an inserting guide for the key member 108 at the time ofinsertion and to carry both side edges of the key member 108.

[0144] It should be noted that smooth insertion and drawing of the keymember 108 might be performed in case of providing a guide means 109 forthe key member 108 to be inserted on an inner surface of the main walls105 of the box body 102 and the cover body 104 as illustrated in FIGS.32 and 34.

[0145] Continuous concave and convex portions 110 are formed to fit in amutually meshing manner within specified regions at which a peripheraledge at a distal end opposite to the inserting direction of the keymember 108 and open edges of the through holes 107 oppose.

[0146] As illustrated in FIG. 36, even if one should try to forciblypress a head of a tool K such as a minus driver into a fitting portionbetween the through holes 107 and the key member 108, the head of thetook K will get snagged at the concave and convex edges of the concaveand convex portion 110 to thereby block the pressing, and it isaccordingly possible to eliminate forcible opening through prying of theperipheral walls 6 by pressing the tool K therein or to eliminatedamages of the fitting portion.

[0147] In case lengths of projections, depths of concave portions andwidths of the concaves and convexes of the concave and convex portions110 are set to be smaller than a length of a pointed edge with a flattip of the tool K, picking operations of the tool K may be moreeffectively performed.

[0148] The shape of the concave and convex portions 110 is not limitedto that of FIG. 36 but may be formed to assume a shape of saw teeth asillustrated in FIG. 44 or waveform as illustrated in FIG. 45.

[0149] While the range for the concave and convex portions 110 formed onthe opposing surfaces extends as far as the entire periphery of thefitting portion in the illustrated case, it is also possible to formthese at longer side edges that are parallel to each other except forboth ends of the fitting portion.

[0150] The opposing surfaces on which the concave and convex portions110 are to be formed may be the plate surface of the key member 108 andthe edges of the through holes 107, the key member 108 and the main wall105 of the case A₁, for example, as shown in FIG. 46, an upper surfaceof a stepped portion 161 that is indent from below the through hole 107formed on the inner surface of the main wall 105 and a lower surfacethat overlaps therewith when fitted into a distal end stepped portion161 of the key member 108.

[0151] The key member 108 shall further be provided with an antithefttag 111 by means of, for instance, an adhering means such as adhesive oran embedding means formed at the time of molding.

[0152] Since the tag 111 includes a peculiar ID code in a manner knownper se, when one tries to make the case A₁ with the key member 108 beinginserted therein that is attached with the tag 111 pass through agateway of a store, passing of the case A₁ may be detected uponresonance of a resonance circuit of the ID code provided at the gatewayto generate a peculiar ID code and detection thereof upon demodulationthrough the high frequency electromagnetic field to consequently preventtheft.

[0153] Collection of the key member 108 in the store and a means forengaging the inserted key member 108 with the case A₁ will now beexplained.

[0154] As illustrated in FIG. 33, a flange 112 that fits into throughholes 107 upon completion of insertion of the key member 108 is providedat a distal end of the key member 108, and the above-described concaveand convex portions 110 are provided on both, the flange 112 and thethrough holes 102.

[0155] While the flange 112 is made to project from both plate surfacesand side edges of the plate surfaces of the key member 108 in theillustrated case, it is also possible to make the flange 112 projectfrom only one of the plate surfaces of the key member 108.

[0156] In this case, concave and convex portions 110 shall be providedon a plate surface of the key member 108 other than that on which theflange 112 is formed.

[0157] Since the width of the flange 112 is large, the width of aclearance formed between the main wall 105 of the through hole 107formed on the outer peripheral wall 106 and the opening of the coverbody 104 is defined to be a width into which the flange 112 is fitted incase the through hole 107 is formed as an elongated hole, and in casethe through hole 107 is formed as a notch as in the above-describedcase, the flange 112 shall be inserted into the notch.

[0158] An engaging means B₁ is formed on a surface at which the case A₁and the key member 108 oppose, wherein the means is pushed backaccompanying insertion of the key member 108 and automatically assumesan engaged condition upon completion of insertion.

[0159] The engaging means B₁ is arranged, as illustrated in FIGS. 33, 34and 37, in that slits 121, which are substantially formed in the shapeof the letter U with both ends facing downward, are cut into the keymember 108, and inner sides of the slits 121 are made to project towardsthe main wall 105 of the cover body 104 to comprise engaging claws 122provided to exhibit resilience utilizing characteristics of syntheticresin of which the key member 108 is made. An inner surface of the innerperipheral wall 106 is made to function as engaging portions 123 thatstart pushing the engaging claws 122 back through the edges of thethrough holes 107 immediately after insertion of the key member 108 hasbeen completed, wherein the ends of the engaging claws 122 in theprojecting direction thereof, which have been released from pushingforce upon completion of insertion of the key member 108, engage withthe engaging portions 123. It is alternatively possible to employarrangements for the engaging means B₁ in which separately arrangedengaging claws are attached to the key member 108 through adhesive orthe like, or in which the engaging portions 123 are provided as aprojecting portion formed at the main wall 105 of the box body 102.

[0160] The number of engaging claws 122 is not limited to two formed onthe right and left as in the illustrated case but may be freelydetermined, and the engaging portions 123 may as well be formed on thecover body 104.

[0161] In using the above case A₁, the opening portion 101 of the boxbody 102 is first closed by the cover body 104 whereupon the key member108 is inserted into the coincident through holes 107, 107.

[0162] The engaging claws 122 are pushed back by the edges of thethrough holes 107, 107 accompanying the insertion, and upon completionof insertion at which the through holes 107 of the outer peripheral wall106 are fitted, the engaging claws 122 that are released from contactwith the edges of the through holes 107 will restore upon release offorce pushing these back to hook at the engaging portions 123 such thatthe engaging portions 123 and the engaging claws 122 are in engagedconditions as illustrated in FIG. 34.

[0163] Drawing out of the key member 108 by anyone other than thesalesperson may be blocked through this engaged condition and theft ofcommodity a within the case A₁ may thus be prevented.

[0164] Actions for drawing the key member 108 out by using releasingtool C₁ at the store will now be explained.

[0165] As illustrated in FIGS. 37, 38 and 39, the releasing tool C₁ islocated just above the engaging claws 122 of the flange 112, and byproviding elongated holes 131 that coincide with the through holes 107,jutting pieces 134 that project from a plate 133 with a grip 132 arepierced into these elongated holes 131.

[0166] When passing from central portions of ends in the projectingdirections of the engaging claws 132, the pierced jutting pieces 134function to push the engaging claws 122 back upon contact between bottomedges of the notches 135 and tapered surface portions 136 provided onone side edge of the ends of the projecting pieces 134 in a projectingdirection thereof.

[0167] In this manner, the engaged condition between the engaging claws122 and the engaging portions 123 as illustrated in FIG. 34 will bereleased when the engaging portions 123 come off the engaging claws 122as illustrated in FIG. 38, the key member 108 may be drawn out whenpulling the releasing tool C₁ in a direction as indicated by the arrowin FIG. 39.

[0168] It should be noted that upon release of the engaged condition ofthe engaging claws 122, resilience acting on the engaging claws 122 thathave been pushed back will function to press the engaging claws 122against the jutting pieces 134 so that the key member 108 may be drawnout together with the releasing tool C₁ through frictional force causedthrough pressing.

[0169] In order to ensure drawing actions, as shown in FIG. 39, athrough window 137 that coincides with the through holes 107 shall beformed next to the elongated holes 131 of the flange 112 such that aprojecting piece 138 projecting from the plate 133 will pierce throughthe through window 137 and the through holes 107.

[0170] The projecting piece 138 is formed with a slit 139 that issubstantially formed in the shape of the letter U with both ends facingdownward, and an inner side of the slit 139 is made to project towardsthe key member 108 to comprise a latching claw 140 that functionssimilar to the engaging claws 122.

[0171] The key member 108 is then formed with a latch portion 141 formedas a concave or through hole into which a tip of the latching piece 140in the projecting direction thereof fits for latching upon completion ofpiercing of the projecting piece 138.

[0172] It is of course possible to form the latching piece 140 at thekey member 108 while the latch portion 141 is formed on the projectingpiece 138.

[0173] In such a case, the latching piece 140 abutting against the keymember 108 in the course of piercing the projecting piece 138 will bepushed back, and since the latching piece 140 and the latch portion 141coincide when the engaged condition of the engaging claws 122 and theengaging portions 123 is released, the latching piece 140, which hasbeen released from force pushing the same back, will fit into latchportion 141 to assume a latched condition as illustrated in FIG. 39.

[0174] It is therefore possible to reliably draw the key member 108 outwhen pulling the releasing tool C₁ out.

[0175] The drawn out key member 108 is left in the store for reuse, andthe case A₁ which key member 108 has been collected is used as a casefor sales or rent.

[0176] Since no key member 108 with the tag 111 is present within thecase A₁, it will be possible to omit any shields for the A₁.

[0177] It is also possible to exhibit the same effects as thoseexplained above with reference to tool K by fitting pieces 142projecting from the peripheral wall 106 into inward end edges of theelongated holes 131 or through window 137 and by providing theabove-described concave and convex portions 110 on surfaces at whichthese pieces 142 and open edges of the elongated holes 131 or throughwindow 137 oppose to make these concave and convex portions 110 meshwith each other as illustrated in FIGS. 32, 33 and 36.

[0178] While both, the projecting pieces 134 for releasing the engagedcondition and projecting pieces 138 formed with latching pieces 140 fordrawing the key member 108 out are provided on the releasing tool C₁, itis also possible to draw the key member 108 out by means of aexclusively designed drawing tool comprising projecting pieces withlatching pieces in case no engaging means B₁ are provided for the caseA₁ and the key member 108.

[0179] In case the pieces 142 are fit into the through holes 131 or thethrough window 137, clearances allowing passing of jutting pieces 134 orprojecting pieces 138 shall be provided.

[0180] In the commodity antitheft implement according to the ninthembodiment of the present invention, the case A₁ is comprised of the boxbody 102 as illustrated in FIGS. 40 to 42 or as illustrated in FIGS. 32and 33 in relation to the eighth embodiment, and a cover body 104provided at the box body 102 through hinges 103 for opening and closingopening portion 101 of the box body 102, wherein continuous concave andconvex portions 110 that fit with each other in a meshing condition areformed at specified regions on opposing surfaces of peripheral walls 106of the case A₁ that inwardly and outwardly overlap with each other in anopening and abutting manner or on opposing surfaces of either one of theopening portion 101 of the outer peripheral wall 106 and the box body102 or the cover body 104.

[0181] While the region for providing the concave and convex portions110 is defined to be other than the peripheral walls 106 at which thehinges 103 are formed in the eighth and ninth embodiments, they may beprovided at arbitrary locations of the peripheral wall 6 upon suitableselection.

[0182] In the ninth embodiment, the concave and convex portions 110 areformed as stepped portions overlapping inwardly and outwardly at theopening portion of both peripheral walls 106, 106 as illustrated inFIGS. 42 and 43 since surfaces of both peripheral walls 106, 106 of thebox body 102 and the cover body 104 are formed on the same plane, andsuch stepped portion may be formed on opposing surfaces of the fittingand abutting portion.

[0183] It should be noted that the concave and convex portions 110 areformed on an opening edge surface of the outer peripheral wall 106 andon a rear surface of a side of the main wall 105 in the eighthembodiment.

[0184] The above concave and concave portions 110 may also be formed ina shape of saw teeth or waveform as explained with reference to theeighth embodiment.

[0185] Similar to the eighth embodiment, the concave and convex portions110 that are in mesh with each other will block opening of the case A₁through prying by piercing a tool.

[0186] In the drawing, 151 denotes a latching means of elastic piecestyle and is a combination of a concave portion and a projectingportion.

[0187] The above arrangements of the commodity antitheft implementaccording to the present invention enables it to prevent pilferage ofcommodities within the case or taking cases accumulating thereincommodities or objects of which theft shall be prevented out of thestore without permission with the effect of eliminating theft.

[0188] Since key members with tags are left in the store upon sales orrent, it is of advantage that troublesome shielding may be omitted andthe key members may also be reused in the store.

[0189] It is further possible to ensure accurate insertion along aspecified line through the guide means, and to prevent contact betweenaccumulated articles within the case and the key members so that it ispossible to eliminate breakage or damages of the accumulated articles.

[0190] Opening of the case through application of forcible force in anopening direction thereof will be prevented through fitting membersuniformly formed with the key members or latching means of sliders, anddamages of piercing portions of the key members or members thereof toengage with the sliders may be prevented.

What is claimed is:
 1. A commodity antitheft implement provided for acase comprised of a box body having an opening portion for taking acommodity in and out, and a cover body provided at the box body throughhinges to open and close the opening portion, wherein through holes thatcoincide with each other in a closed condition of the case are formed atspecified positions of overlapping or opposing peripheral walls of thebox body and the cover body, and wherein a key member is insertedthrough the coincident through holes to be freely inserted and drawnout.
 2. The commodity antitheft implement according to claim 1, whereina guide means for the key member that is inserted into the through holesis provided within the case.
 3. The commodity antitheft implementaccording to claim 1, wherein the case and the key member to be insertedare provided with engaging means that are pushed back upon insertion ofthe key member and that assume engaged conditions upon completion ofinsertion.
 4. The commodity antitheft implement according to claim 1,wherein the case and the key member to be inserted are provided withengaging means that are pushed back upon insertion of the key member andthat assume engaged conditions upon completion of insertion, and whereininserting apertures for inserting a releasing tool for releasing theengaged condition of the engaging means are formed at peripheral wallsof the case.
 5. The commodity antitheft implement according to claim 1,wherein the case and the key member to be inserted are provided withengaging means that are pushed back upon insertion of the key member andthat assume engaged conditions upon completion of insertion, wherein areleasing tool for releasing the engaged condition of the engaging meansupon insertion thereof into the through holes of the case for insertingthe key members is provided, and wherein the releasing tool and the keymember are provided with latch portions for fitting and latching uponrelease of the engaged condition by the releasing tool.
 6. The commodityantitheft implement according to claim 1, wherein the case and the keymember to be inserted are provided with engaging means that are pushedback upon insertion of the key member and that assume engaged conditionsupon completion of insertion, wherein inserting apertures for insertinga drawing tool for the key member are formed at specified locations ofthe through holes for inserting the key member, and wherein latchportions for fitting and latching are provided at a position at whichthe inserted drawing tool and the key member oppose.
 7. The commodityantitheft implement according to claim 1, wherein the key member isprovided with an antitheft tag.
 8. An antitheft case which is a casecomprised of a box body having an opening portion for taking a commodityin and out and a cover body provided at the box body through hinges toopen and close the opening portion, wherein through holes that coincidewith each other in a closed condition of the case are formed atspecified positions of overlapping or opposing peripheral walls of thebox body and the cover body.
 9. An antitheft key member which is a keymember that is inserted into through holes of the antitheft caseaccording to claim 8 in a freely inserting and drawing manner, whereinthe key member is provided with an antitheft tag.
 10. An antitheft keymember which is a key member that is inserted into through holes of theantitheft case according to claim 8 in a freely inserting and drawingmanner, wherein the key member is provided with an engaging means thatis pushed back upon insertion of the key member and that assumes engagedcondition with an engaging means of the case upon completion ofinsertion.
 11. An engagement releasing tool that is inserted towards thekey member according to claim 10 that is inserted into the case, whereina pointing out portion for releasing engaged conditions for pushing theengaging means back is provided at a leading end of insertion thereof.12. A commodity antitheft implement comprised of a piercing member thatis inserted into a latch portion such as hole or piercing portion of anobject of which theft shall be prevented, a locking device provided toenable assembled maintenance of both end portions of the piercing memberand release of the assembled maintenance, and an antitheft tag providedat the piercing member or the locking device.
 13. The commodityantitheft implement according to claim 1, wherein an engaging member forpreventing forcible opening of the case by fitting outwardly of the caseupon completion of insertion of the key member is provided.
 14. Acommodity antitheft implement comprising a case comprised of a box bodyhaving an opening portion for taking a commodity in and out and a coverbody provided at the box body through suitable hinges to open and closethe opening portion, parallel engaging grooves (sic.) provided at sideedges of the box body and the cover body of the case, a slider providedto be freely inserted and drawn out to and from the engaging grooves(sic.) to assume an engaged condition for maintaining the closedcondition of the case, and an engaging means provided at the slider andthe case or the engaging grooves that is pushed back upon insertion ofthe slider and that assumes an engaged condition upon completion ofinsertion, wherein the slider or the slider and the case are providedwith latching means for blocking forcible opening of the case byassuming a latched relationship upon completion of insertion of theslider.
 15. A commodity antitheft implement provided for a casecomprised of a box body having an opening portion for taking a commodityin and out and a cover body provided at the box body through hinges toopen and close the opening portion with through holes that coincide witheach other in a closed condition of the case being formed at specifiedpositions of overlapping or opposing peripheral walls of the box bodyand the cover body, wherein continuous concave and convex portions thatfit in a meshing manner with each other are provided at specifiedregions of a surface at which a peripheral edge at a distal end of thekey member opposite to the inserting direction thereof and open edges ofthe through holes oppose.
 16. An antitheft case which is a casecomprised of a box body having an opening portion for taking a commodityin and out and a cover body provided at the box body through hinges toopen and close the opening portion, wherein continuous concave andconvex portions that fit in a meshing manner with each other areprovided at specified regions of either a surface at which mutuallyoverlapping peripheral walls abut and oppose or a surface at which theopen surface of the outer peripheral wall and the surface of either thebox body or the cover body oppose.